At anchor before Batavia – after Charles William Meredith van de Velde, 1846

“De Reede van Batavia”, [The roadstead of Batavia], lithograph made by Paul Lauters after a design by Charles William Meredith van de Velde and published in 1846 by Frans Buffa & Zonen. Coloured by a later habnd. Size: (image) 21,4 x 13,7 (incl. text: 28,3 x 33,6 cm.)

We see the calm waters of the roadstead of Batavia, then part of the Dutch East Indies. Numerous sailing vessels lie at anchor, ranging from large ocean-going ships to smaller coastal craft and indigenous pirogues. In the background unfolds a dense forest of masts and rigging.

Because the harbour itself was shallow and difficult to access for large ships, these vessels were required to anchor in the roadstead. Goods, passengers, and mail were subsequently transported between ship and city by smaller boats—often manned by local rowers.

The scene forms part of the series “Gezigten uit Neêrlands Indië” [Views from the Dutch East Indies], an ambitious project in which Van de Velde recorded his observations during his stay in the East Indies (1838–1845). The lithographs were intended for a European audience and combine documentary accuracy with an aesthetically appealing, almost idyllic representation of the colonial landscape.

Although the print presents an ostensibly objective view of the harbour, it also functions as a statement of Dutch presence and power in the archipelago. The prominent Dutch vessels and the orderly composition suggest control, stability, and economic vitality. At the same time, local figures and vessels are integrated into the scene, yet remain subordinate in scale and position.

Price: Euro 375,-